ER hives study: do steroids really help?
NCT ID NCT03545464
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether giving a steroid (cortancyl) along with an antihistamine (levocetirizine) is better than the antihistamine alone for treating sudden hives in the emergency department. 137 adults with acute urticaria (with or without mild angioedema) were enrolled. The main goal was to see if the antihistamine alone was not worse than the combination at controlling hives and itching over 7 days.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Corticosteroid (prednisone) and antihistamine (levocetirizine)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that antihistamines alone are enough for acute hives, avoiding unnecessary steroid use.
What could go wrong
This is a completed Phase 3 trial with only 137 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The study focused on non-inferiority, not superiority, so it may not show a clear benefit of one approach over the other.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Hospital Louis MOURIER
Colombes, Île-de-France Region, 92700, France